A U.S. drone strike has killed six suspected al-Qaeda militants, Yemeni military officials said, according to Belfast Telegraph.

They said the attack took place near the border of Marib and Shabwa provinces south-east of the capital Sanaa.

The area hit is part of a large swathe of territory in the south that al-Qaeda militants have held for months.

There was no immediate word from Washington on whether it was behind the attack.

In the past two weeks, Yemeni officials say U.S. drone strikes have killed at least three senior al-Qaeda operatives in the country's south.